WSCC Workforce Development Program helps employ people

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CLEVELAND — People looking to re-enter the workforce after challenges like incarceration, homelessness or substance abuse often face obstacles to even get an interview, let alone a job.


What You Need To Know

  • The West Side Catholic Center opened 44 years ago
  • The trauma-informed nonprofit serves more than 8,000 people in the Greater Cleveland area each year
  • The center offers many free services including a Workforce Development Program

But one northeast Ohio organization offers a program to help.

 

Forty-four years ago, multiple churches banded together to provide food and clothing to the community. That’s how the West Side Catholic Center in Cleveland was born. 

It has expanded over the years to include many free services including a Workforce Development Program.

One Cleveland woman stumbled upon the center in March and now, eight months later, she said she’ll never be the same after finding the support she needed to turn her life around.

Shannon Kuhn is in a new phase of life.

Less than a month ago, she became a support staff member at the West Side Catholic Center.

“I’m almost starting my life over again,” she said.

Kuhn has been through a lot: homelessness, drug addiction, incarceration and an abusive marriage.

“I had a mental breakdown,” she said. “Came here and I’m clean again.”

She said the West Side Catholic Center saved her.

“Every day when I wake up, it’s like I get a little bit better every day,” said Kuhn.

Her main role is running the free store at the Resource Center. 

“Almost my whole wardrobe is from here now,” she said.

She earned her job after completing the center’s eight-week Workforce Development Program.

The program partners with hundreds of employers in various industries and guarantees a job offer for every graduate.

“This was my first graduation. I had never put a cap and gown on before,” said Kuhn.

Now she feels fulfilled helping others because she’s been in their shoes.

“Like my life means something now,” she said. “You know?”

Kuhn is full of gratitude. The support and hope she’s found at WSCC are what keep her going.

“For me to be able to give that to somebody that I was given is, see I got goosebumps,” said Kuhn while pointing at her arm. “It’s amazing, it’s amazing, it’s amazing.”

Her pain is still fresh and her healing journey is far from over, but she knows she’s in the right place.

“I’m helping and that’s helping me,” she said.

The West Side Catholic Center said it has hundreds of other successful graduates just like Kuhn who are now back in the workforce. Every eight weeks, a new class starts.

Everything from resume building to interview skills and financial literacy is taught in the program.

“Teach people to fish, as opposed to just giving them the fish,” said John Litten, executive director of the West Side Catholic Center.

Litten said he can’t put a face to the client base because they serve all kinds of people. That includes people in the neighborhood looking for better opportunities, seniors interested in computer skills and others who have experienced homelessness or incarceration and really everything in between.

“We’ve often served people in that workforce program who’ve probably come to us for meals for four or five years before they felt comfortable; and before they trusted us enough to try something else, and try a class, you know, through some encouragement or whatever the case may be,” he said. “So, it’s been neat to see people progress from just coming to us for a meal over a number of years to feeling like they trust us enough to teach them how to re-enter the workforce.”

The trauma-informed nonprofit serves more than 8,000 people in the Greater Cleveland area each year in some shape or form.

 


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